Reciprocating washer and centrifugal drier provided with shock absorbing hydraulic suspension assembly



Feb. 24, 1953 J. w. cHAMBl-:RLIN 2,629,245

RECIPROCATING WASHER AND CENTRIFUGAL DRIER PROVIDED HYDRAULIC SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY WITH SHOCK ABSORBIN G 29, 1946 2 SHEETS--Sl-IEET l Filed Nov.

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INVENTO/ JQHNWGHAM ERL/N Feb. 24, 1953 J. w. CHAMBERLIN 2,629,245

ASHER `ND CENTRIFUGAL DRISR PROVIDED WITH sHocx ABsoRarNG 29, 194e..

RECIPBOCATING W HYDRAULIC SUSPENSION-ASSEMBLY Filed NOV,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Ql Qn Il /NvE/vroR .10H/v mcHAMaE/eL//v BY i ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 24, 1953 RECIPROCATING WASHER AND CENTRIFU- GAL DRIER PROVIDED WITH SHOCK AB- SORBING HYDRAULIC SUSPENSION AS- S'EIVIBLY John W. Chamberlin, Mequon, Wis., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Aveo Manufacturing Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 29, 1946, serial No. 713,191

Claims. (Cl. 68-24) This invention relates to textile washing and extracting mechanism and more particularly to a combined machine capable of both Washing and centrifugal drying in the same unit.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a combined washing and extracting machine of the type embodying a clothes cylinder mounted on a horizontal axis with mechanism to oscillate the cylinder in a substantially horizontal direction for the purpose of producing a washing action together with mechanism to rotate the cylinder at relatively high speed for the purpose of extracting the `washing liquid from` the contained clothing.

It is a further object to provide mounting structure which aiords resilient support to the washing machine and absorbs much of the vibration caused by out of balance loads during the high speed rotation of the cylinder for extraction.

It is another object to provide a washing machine with mechanism whereby the transition from oscillation to rotation may be accomplished by a minimum of operating controls.

Still another object is to provide a washing machine with a clothes containing cylinder which has an` opening capable of receiving clothes at one end and which is provided with resilient support at the opposite end for eifecting oscillation and rotation.

The above and other objects of the invention will appear more fully from the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a Washing machine showing the tub and driving means for the cylinder.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the machine showing the mechanism for reciprocation and centrifugal extraction.

Figure 3 is a cross section of the oscillating strut with the solenoid valve open and permitting the piston to move freely during high speed extracting operation. i i

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the solenoid valve in a closed position such that the piston is stationary and rotation of the crank pulley will result in reciprocation of the tub.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the back of the machine and the general arrangement of the two drives, one for reciprocation and the other for rotation.

`Figure 6 is a diagrammatic View showing the relativelrotation of the clutch gears during reciprocation operation. I 1 -r ,I

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view showing rotation of the clutch gear during high speed extraction operation.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional View through the clutch and drive shaft assembly.

Figure 9 is a cross section through the clutch showing one of the clutch bands and the operating means therefor.

Figure 10 is a top View of Figure 9.

A cylinder I0 in which the clothes are to be placed for washing is mounted on a horizontal drive shaft II which shaft is driven by a pulley I2 and belt I3 in such a manner as to cause the cylinder to rotate. A tub I4 encloses the cylinder, with the shaft II and its housing I5 being connected to the tub by a rubber gasket I6 in order to seal the tub I4 and to enable cylinder IIJ to rotate inside the stationary tub I4.

A suspension assembly I'I extends from the shaft I I, which it supports together with the cylinder III, to a pivotal support shaft I8 at the base of the washer. This assembly is made up of a center supporting member I9 to which are attached the two vertical stabilizers 2I and 22. The center supporting member I9 as well as the vertical stabilizers 2I and 22 are shock absorbers of the pneumatic type, and as may be seen by reference to Figures l and 2, the center supporting member I9 is designed with a piston member ISB extending upward from the support shaft I8 thereby to absorb motion in a downward direction; whereas the vertical stabilizers IB and 22 are provided with piston members extending downwardly from lugs 19a and 22a mounted on the center supporting member I9 thereby to resist upward movement of the unit. Such anarrangement provides for resilient vertical support and enables the entire assembly to oscillate freely about the axis of the support shaft I8. In order t0 resiliently resist the reciprocating movement of the shaft `II which is made vpossible by the movement of the suspension assembly I1 about the pivotal shaft I8, a centering strut 23 is provided. p

At the bottom of the machine a motor 26 drives a planetary gear assembly 2l which is equipped with two clutch bands 28 and 29. As is more fully described hereinafter the actuation of one of these clutch bands 28 causes the rotation of the cylinder l0 by lirst setting in motion the pulley 30 which through the belt I3 causes the pulley I2 to rotate the shaft I I. The belt I3 also passes over the idler sheave 24 which is continuously pulled outward by the tension spring 25 and which therefore acts as a belt tightener.

I Theractuation .of-tbeother clutch band` 28 is..

assembly Il and imparts to it a reciprocating motion. The connecting rodr 34 has' both'ascylx-I. l

inder portion 35 and a pistonportion St. As is illustrated in Figures 3 and-/i/twoliquid 'filled chambers 3'I and 38 are provided in the cylinder portion on opposite sides of the piston, and Ythese chambers are connected by-a' conduit 39fcontrolled by a solenoid operatedvalve 4th Figure shows the solenoid valve 4t open permitting a metered iioW of liquid between chambers 3l and 38 and leaving the piston Slfreewto reciprocate so that the rotation of the crank pulley will not cause the suspension assembly I'i or the cylinder to.freciprocate.,` This-result .is further .assured bythe;centering-strut assembly 23 Whose normal..

function is to hold the assembly in a central position.- However, if the solenoid valve il@ is closed as it -is-inFigure: e, the'interchange of liquid between the chambers Si and 36 through the conduit i3d is stopped and thefpiston remains stationary inside the cylinder, thus causing the connecting rod ,t.o..becoine.=one rigid. piece, and

causing the toprof the suspension assembly l'i to reci-proeatefwhenithe `pulley 33 is `rotated. A con.

stand-length forrthereciprocating stroke is insuredbyfthe-l centering ...springs 521and 53 inside the-cylinderportion of the connecting rod, and

on zoppositetsidesf ofpiston=v Sii, .which springs' cause :thepistonto lcome to rest in the correct positionv after rotation.l

As is shown in Figures 8,. 9 and 10 the transv missionisa planetary type having a clutch spider 4|.'Which carries a ring gear. 42 and rotation of saidspider causes rotation of the pulley 3Q which aspreviouslyfmentioned `causes rotation of the cylinder Ieforcentrifugalextraction. The pulleyii, thelrotationrcf 'which` as previously mentioned;causeseoscillationof the cylinder through the belt-32ffand.`thecrank-pulley 33 is rotated throughiashaft 43 .whichcarries a drive disk.

44and.this diskacts-as a carrier for the pinion gears 145.1 The drive disk44 and-pinion gears 455 also :rotate-:with-a clutch ldisk d5.. The drive motor126`-drives Va gear il Ythroughits shaft. 43.1 The :drive gear .-41 asshown in Figures 6 and??`v is a'sunigear oiaplanetary gear train and meshes Withfpreviousiy'mentioned pinion-gears 45 Whichpinicn.gears mesh in turn with ring gear 42.-y On thenoutsidef'of ,-thetransmission there are twov clutchv bandsv andf29.. rIfheclutch-band 23 lsur-v rounds the 'clutch spider 4I andtheclutchband 2isurrcmidsf theaclutch disk '43'.- Asshown in Figures '9.fand'i10vthe1clutch bandsw and 29 are controlledibya spring49 and a solenoid El?.y When the` solenoid '5t isf not.: actuated: the' spring t9 pulls operatingzlinkI .towards the left as Vshovvn in Figure 9 and causes the clutch band 29 to becontracted to'.l gripl theY clutch disk '46.. However,

when thez-solenoidv is actuatedas shown `in 4Figure gxthealinks-l is' moved towards the-right and the clutch-alfbandi iis'v .grippedfagainst the` clutch spiderzf Iiytoi hold it against rotation. Therefore, innoperationl when the clutch. band 28 .is contra'cted 'by' actuation ofthe'solenoid 5i) the clutch spideralil v/ill befheld in a` stationaryiposition andfthezrotation of the motor shaft 48 .Willcause the-drive gear-.41 'to-berotatedzwhich will rotate.'

the pinionfgears1-45andcause said .pinion gears tcirotateonthe ring gear 42g which fis stationary 4 and thereby result in a rotation of the drive disk 44 and the shaft 43 which carries with it the oscillatingy pulley3 I. However, when the solenoid is notv actuatedl the opposite 'clutch band 29 is contracted Vto gripthe clutch Y'disk'Mp Such resuit will cause the pinion gears 45 to remain stationary and the rotation of the drive gear 41 Will'causealthezclutch spider 4I to rotate which vvillca'rry-Withit the pulley 30 for rotating the cylinder. for spinninggor centrifugal extraction.

It is therefore apparent that if controls are provided to actuatethe transmission assembly at the bottom of the machine and also for the solenoid-"valve-Ml,4 that the machine may be operated selectivclyseither in the reciprocating or rotating cycle. During the reciprocating cycle the clothes cylinder- I0 is caused to reciprocate back-and forth in a horizontal plane. This reciprocating movement is;y resiliently resisted by the centering strut 23, whichis provided with a springsof sufficient resiliency "to enable it tobe flexed by the reciprocation' of thesuspension` asv sembly I7 but'which'is of sufficient strength'to cause the suspensionassemblyv II to be centeredv f When the reciprocationceases.V Thehorizontal reciprocationfof the machine Vagitates the clothes and Washing'fluid in such a manner that the clothes are rubbed against. the baiiles'and the interior surfaces of the'clothes cylinder IE).` This friction between the clothes'and the'interior of thevvashing cylinder IB as Well'as the movement ofthe Washing fluid vWhich enters the cylinder through the 'numerous perforations therein pros f duces a Washing actionwhichis very eiiicient and likewise veryeconomical of Water and soap.

the Water is drained from the tub I4 and the' machine is then operated in the rotating or spin;` ning cycle for extracting the. Water frorrrthecon'- tained Vclothes by .operation of 'suitablezcontrols" for bands 2B and 29 and valve '40. YTh'e'clo'thesm cylinderA I0 is rotated at a suflciently.highspeed4 tolutilize. centrifugalforce to remove the Water from` .the clothing.. .through4v .the perforationsinA the cylinder. .The vibration and torque resulting frornithehighspeed rotationof theclothes cyl'Y inder is largely absorbed by theatwo. vertical.

stabilizers `2 I. andL 22 .andinthe horizontal direction. by ...the centering strut 23 andthe connecting..

rodunit 34 Whichnowacts as ashock absorbing. unitdue ,tooil transfer through .valve .40.; .1 Any..

slack in the belting which might be causedby.,

the movement off the suspension assembly.v II

about the pivotal supportY I8 -is taken. up by the idler sheave 24 over Which the belts I3 and 32 run;

Thusit can be--seen vthat Athis invention .com-

binesA-*thefadvantages -of reciprocating `Washing *i action along with a high speed rotationalfspin.. for v extraction:v

Whilefone particular machine-and itsoperation have been describedin detail, itis not intended .to

vlimit the scope cf the inventionfby thatrdescrip tion or otherwise' than Vby the termsof. the appended claims.

YI .claimt 1. In a: combined i Washing and extracting Ina-.-` chine embodying a s lclothes containing cylinder mounted-for rotation upon. a shaft',-meansrtoro-.=- tate said cylinder-at high-speed for'centrifugi-f ing action, a suspension assemblyfsupporting said cylinder *and :shaftsa 1 crank pulley'fpoing rod having one end thereotnttached .to-:sad-r crank pulley and the other end thereof attached to said suspension assembly, said connecting rod comprising a liquid filled cylinder portion and a piston portion with said piston dividing said liquid lled cylinder into two chambers, a conduit which connects said chambers, a valve located on said conduit, means to close the valve to stop the iiow of liquid 'in said cylinder from one of said chambers to the other of said chambers thereby causing said piston to remain stationary and causing the connecting rod to become rigid to act as an oscillating member, means to open said valve to permit the liquid to flow from one of said chambers to the other, thereby permitting the piston to move in said cylinder and enabling said connecting rod to be variable in length to act as a shock absorber during the rotation of said cylinder.

2. In a combined washing and extracting machine of the character described, a clothes receiving cylinder mounted for rotation on a substantially horizontal shaft, a vertically extending resilient suspension assembly supporting said cylinder and said shaft in horizontal position for limited vertical movement, a crank pulley positioned adjacent one side of said cylinder, a connecting rod having one end thereof attached to said crank pulley and the other end thereof attached to said suspension assembly, said connecting rod having a liquid lled cylinder portion and a piston portion, means to prevent movement of liquid in said cylinder portion thereby to substantially rigidly connect said crank pulley and said suspension assembly when said cylinder is oscillated for washing, and means to allow movement of liquid in said cylinder portion during rotation of said cylinder for extraction thereby to arrange said connecting rod to operate as a shock absorber for lateral loads.

43. In a combined washing and extracting machine of the character described, a clothes receiving cylinder mounted for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis, a vertically extending resilient suspension assembly supporting said cylinder in horizontal position for limited vertical movement, a crank pulley positioned adjacent one side of said cylinder, rod means having one end thereof attached to said crank pulley .and the other end thereof attached to said suspension assembly, electrically controlled hydraulic means to arrange said rod means to operate as a rigid connecting member for oscillation of said cylinder, and said electrically controlled hydraulic means adapted to arrange said rod means to operate as a shock absorbing member during rotation of said cylinder for extracting.

4. In a combined washing and extracting machine of the character described, a clothes receiving cylinder, means to rotate said cylinder at high speed for extraction, a vertically extending resilient suspension assembly supporting said cylinder in horizontal for limited vertical movement, a crank pulley positioned adjacent one side of said cylinder, a, rod connecting said crank pulley to said suspension assembly, said rod having two liquid containing cylinder portions and a piston portion, a conduit interconnecting said liquid containing cylinder portions, and a' valve adapted to control the rigidity of said rod by closing and opening said conduit, whereby said rod is arranged to operate as an oscillating member for said cylinder on closing of said conduit, and whereby said rod is arranged to operate as a shock absorber for said cylinder when said valve is open.

5. In a combined washing and extracting machine of the character described, a clothes receiving cylinder mounted for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis, a vertically extending resilient suspension assembly supporting said cylinder in horizontal position for limited vertical movement, a crank pulley positioned adjacent one side of said cylinder, a, rod connecting said crank pulley to said suspension assembly, said rod having fluid containing cylinder portions and a piston portion, means adapted to selectively allow or prevent movement of uid in said cylinder portions thereby to selectively allow or resist movement of said piston portion therein, and resilient means within said cylinder portions adapted to urge said piston portion to assume a position substantially centrally of said cylinder portions.

JOHN W. CHAMBERllN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

` UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 408,791 Cairns l Aug. 13, 1889 408,797 Cronk Aug. 13, 1889 781,732 McFarlane Feb. 7, 1905 816,058 Andree Mar. 27, 1906 1,436,680 Power Nov. 28, 1922 2,396,105 Kirby Mar. 5, 1946 2,510,836 Russell June 6, 1950 2,526,048 Russell Oct. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 195,782 Germany May 7, 1907 

